The Early History of Syria and Palestine

ABOUT 1376 B.C. Amenhotep IV. died. As he left
no sons, he was succeeded by Sakere, the husband
of his daughter Mertaten, whom during his lifetime
he had associated with him in the government. The
change of rulers was the signal for the outbreak of
hostility against the newly established Aten-worship. Sakere, who remained loyal to the teaching of his
father-in-law, was forced from the throne by the
Theban priesthood, and Tutankhaten, the husband of Ankhsenaten, a second daughter of Amenhotep IV.,
was made king. He conciliated the orthodox party by
abjuring Aten, and by changing his own name to Tutankhamen, and his wife's name to Ankhsenamen. He
abandoned Tell-el-Amarna, and allowed its palaces and
temples to fall into ruin. Externally he was a zealous
worshipper of Amen, whose temples he reopened, and
whose cult he supported. Ay, his successor, had
been a high official at the court of Amenhotep IV.;
but on becoming king, he also professed himself a
worshipper of Amen and did his best to undo the
work of reformation.

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